Friday 19 July 2019

To return to the Moon, astronauts need new spacesuits

Space engineer Pablo de Leon has designed two spacesuit prototypes for the Moon and for Mars, and knows how long development takes.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/to-return-to-the-moon-astronauts-need-new-spacesuits

Thai farmers on the cash trail with snail slime

Giant snails inch across a plate of pumpkin and cucumber in central Thailand, an "organic" diet to tease the prized collagen-rich mucus from the molluscs, which to some cosmetic firms are now more valuable than gold.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/thai-farmers-on-the-cash-trail-with-snail-slime

Technology, temporary help keeps farmers on job longer

At 79 years old, Art McManus says he's still able to hop on the tractor and maintain the 160 acres of cherry trees at his orchard in Traverse City, Michigan.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/technology-temporary-help-keeps-farmers-on-job-longer

The exploration of space in 10 key dates

From the Soviet Union's pioneering satellite to the first man on the Moon 50 years ago, here are 10 key dates in space exploration.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/the-exploration-of-space-in-10-key-dates

Physicist studying how extreme weather in space affects satellites

A physicist at The University of Texas at Arlington is developing a new scale to measure weather storms in space that could lead to a better understanding of how those storms impact Earth.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/physicist-studying-how-extreme-weather-in-space-affects-satellites

Discovering how diabetes leads to vascular disease

A team of UC Davis Health scientists and physicians has identified a cellular connection between diabetes and one of its major complications—blood vessel narrowing that increases risks of several serious health conditions, including heart disease and stroke.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/discovering-how-diabetes-leads-to-vascular-disease

Biologist leads pioneering study on stress

A biologist at Louisiana State University conducted a pioneering research study that could help us to better understand the role of dopamine in stress resilience in humans through analyzing wild songbirds. This study could lead to increased prevention and treatment of stress-related disorders.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/biologist-leads-pioneering-study-on-stress

New research finds private practice physicians less likely to maintain electronic records

Modernizing health records by making them electronic has gained momentum as technology evolves and policies push health care toward digital solutions. But the same trend has not been evident for physicians who remain in private practice, new research finds.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/new-research-finds-private-practice-physicians-less-likely-to-maintain-electronic-records

Tasmania hosts threatened ancient cultural landscapes

The landscape of Tasmania has been shaped by thousands of years of Aboriginal burning practices, researchers at the University of Melbourne have found.

* This article was originally published here

Relationship between cesarean section and twins' psychological development

A research team of the University of Malaga (UMA) in the area of Medicine and Psychology has analyzed the effect of the type of delivery on twins' psychological development and intelligence, demonstrating that cesarean section carries an independent risk in these multiple births.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/relationship-between-cesarean-section-and-twins-psychological-development

Making catenanes and a molecular trefoil knot out of para-connected benzene rings

A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Japan has developed a way to create catenanes and a molecular trefoil knot out of para-connected benzene rings. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their process and possible uses of their results. Jeff Van Raden, and Ramesh Jasti with the University of Oregon, have published a Perspective piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/making-catenanes-and-a-molecular-trefoil-knot-out-of-para-connected-benzene-rings

Yes, I'm searching for aliens—and no, I won't be going to Area 51 to look for them

What started as an internet joke has generated a stern military warning after more than a million people "signed up" to "raid" Area 51—a secretive military installation in Southern Nevada long fancied by conspiracy theorists to be hiding evidence of a crashed UFO with aliens. The purpose of the planned raid is in order to "see them aliens." In the following Q&A, astronomy professor Jason Wright discusses the public's interest in answering the age-old question: Are we alone?

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/yes-im-searching-for-aliens-and-no-i-wont-be-going-to-area-51-to-look-for-them

HIV in Kenya: High risk groups aren't getting the attention they need

Efforts to manage the HIV epidemic in much of sub-Saharan Africa need to specifically target sections of the population that are most vulnerable to HIV infection. Two such key populations include men who have sex with men and transgender women. But in many countries on the continent same sex relationships—and transgender identities—are criminalised.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/hiv-in-kenya-high-risk-groups-arent-getting-the-attention-they-need

Is it safe to drink alcohol while breastfeeding?

Is it safe to drink alcohol and breastfeed? As physicians, we have always cautioned patients not to. As mothers, we look forward to the occasional glass of wine.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/is-it-safe-to-drink-alcohol-while-breastfeeding

Using language to make the world of fossil fuels strange and ugly

They weren't getting it.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/using-language-to-make-the-world-of-fossil-fuels-strange-and-ugly

Lunar rocks debunk moon landing conspiracy theories

Rocks collected from the moon 50 years ago and analyzed by an international team of scientists, including from the Australian National University (ANU), dispel any notion that the lunar landing was faked, an ANU expert says.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/lunar-rocks-debunk-moon-landing-conspiracy-theories

Largest genomic study on type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan African populations

National Institute of Health researchers have reported the largest genomic study of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in sub-Saharan Africans, with data from more than 5,000 individuals from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. Researchers confirmed known genomic variants and identified a novel gene ZRANB3, which may influence susceptibility to the disease in sub-Saharan African populations. The gene could also influence the development of T2D in other populations and inform further research.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/largest-genomic-study-on-type-2-diabetes-in-sub-saharan-african-populations

Hawaii telescope protesters don't back down after arrests

Protesters didn't back down from their long-running effort to stop construction of a $1.4 billion telescope, blocking a road Thursday to the top of a mountain sacred to some Native Hawaiians a day after authorities arrested nearly three dozen people.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/hawaii-telescope-protesters-dont-back-down-after-arrests

Canadian platform spills 3,200 gallons of oil-mix into Atlantic

An oil platform off the Canadian island of Newfoundland spilled nearly 3,200 gallons of an oil-water mix into the Atlantic Ocean, and efforts were underway to minimize the environmental impact, ExxonMobil said Thursday.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/canadian-platform-spills-3-200-gallons-of-oil-mix-into-atlantic

Great Barrier Reef agency breaks with Australia gvt in climate warning

The agency that manages the Great Barrier Reef broke ranks with Australia's conservative government to call for the "strongest and fastest possible action" against climate change to save the world heritage marine wonder.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/great-barrier-reef-agency-breaks-with-australia-gvt-in-climate-warning

Swine fever sends China's pork prices, imports soaring

Pork prices have been sent soaring and herds devastated as African swine fever tears through China's massive pig-farming industry, forcing the country to ramp up imports to satisfy demand—but analysts warn worse is yet to come.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/swine-fever-sends-chinas-pork-prices-imports-soaring

Big Sugar and neglect by global health community fuel oral health crisis

Oral health has been isolated from traditional healthcare and health policy for too long, despite the major global public health burden of oral diseases, according to a Lancet Series on Oral Health, published today in The Lancet. Failure of the global health community to prioritise the global burden of oral health has led to calls from Lancet Series authors for the radical reform of dental care, tightened regulation of the sugar industry, and greater transparency around conflict of interests in dental research.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/big-sugar-and-neglect-by-global-health-community-fuel-oral-health-crisis

Music may offer alternative to preoperative drug routinely used to calm nerves

Music may offer an alternative to the use of a drug routinely used to calm the nerves before the use of regional anaesthesia (peripheral nerve block), suggest the results of a clinical trial, published online in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/music-may-offer-alternative-to-preoperative-drug-routinely-used-to-calm-nerves

Nations with strong women's rights likely to have better population health and faster growth

Nations with strong women's rights are more likely to have better health and faster growth than those who don't promote and protect these values, finds research published in the online journal BMJ Open.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/nations-with-strong-womens-rights-likely-to-have-better-population-health-and-faster-growth

Salt regulations linked to 9,900 cases of cardiovascular disease and 1,500 cancer cases

A relaxation of UK industry regulation of salt content in food has been linked with 9,900 additional cases of cardiovascular disease, and 1,500 cases of stomach cancer.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/salt-regulations-linked-to-9-900-cases-of-cardiovascular-disease-and-1-500-cancer-cases

Hypertension poorly managed in low- and middle-income countries

Health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are poorly prepared for the increasing number of people with high blood pressure, with more than two-thirds of people affected going without treatment, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in collaboration with colleagues from more than 40 institutions around the world, including several ministries of health.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/hypertension-poorly-managed-in-low-and-middle-income-countries

Study examines differences over time in home dialysis initiation by race and ethnicity

A recent analysis reveals that as home dialysis increased from 2005 to 2013 among U.S. patients with kidney failure, racial/ethnic differences in initiating home dialysis narrowed. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of CJASN, indicate that all racial/ethnic groups are increasingly using this form of dialysis.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/study-examines-differences-over-time-in-home-dialysis-initiation-by-race-and-ethnicity

Diabetes increases the risk of heart failure more in women than men

Diabetes confers a greater excess risk of heart failure in women than men, according to new research in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes). Type 1 diabetes is associated with a 47% excess risk of heart failure in women compared to men, whilst type 2 diabetes has a 9% excess risk of heart failure for women than men.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/diabetes-increases-the-risk-of-heart-failure-more-in-women-than-men

Alzheimer's gene may impact cognitive health before adulthood

A gene linked to Alzheimer's Disease may impact cognitive health much sooner than previously realized.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/alzheimers-gene-may-impact-cognitive-health-before-adulthood

Researchers use Twitter and AI to see who is hitting the gym

Social media data can provide a population-level view of physical activity, from bowling to Crossfit, and inform future efforts to tackle health disparities.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/researchers-use-twitter-and-ai-to-see-who-is-hitting-the-gym

Ivacaftor may reduce common infections in patients with CF

Patients with cystic fibrosis who take ivacaftor appear to have fewer respiratory infections over time than those not taking the drug, according to new research published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/ivacaftor-may-reduce-common-infections-in-patients-with-cf

Many of the deadliest cancers receive the least amount of research funding

Many of the deadliest or most common cancers get the least amount of nonprofit research funding, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study that examined the distribution of nonprofit research funding in 2015 across cancer types.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/many-of-the-deadliest-cancers-receive-the-least-amount-of-research-funding